Avanti Gold moving four drill rigs to Misisi

Mr. Mohamed Cisse reports AVANTI GOLD ANNOUNCES MOBILISATION OF DRILL RIGS TO THE MISISI PROJECT IN THE DRC Avanti Gold Corp. is currently mobilizing four drill rigs following the signing of a drilling service contract with Simba DRC Mining Services Ltd. The rigs, which include three diamond drill rigs and one multipurpose drill rig, are currently departing from Mwanza, Tanzania, and expected to arrive at the Misisi project site by the end of February. In addition, Minecon Resources and Services Ltd. has been selected as the drill program manager, with an extended contract signed following the desktop geological review and 2026 exploration program planning completed over the last several months. Avanti remains engaged with additional in-country drill service providers and is currently evaluating additional opportunities to increase the number of rigs on site. Highlights: Following the signing of a drilling service contract, four drill rigs are currently being mobilized from Tanzania to the Misisi project site, where they are expected to arrive by the end of February. Avanti continues to evaluate options to add additional drill rigs from additional suppliers who attended the in-country supplier field visit in January, 2026. The phase 1 exploration program, expected to launch in March, 2026, will comprise 15,000 metres of drilling at the Akyanga and Akyanga East deposits, focusing on resource extensions at Akyanga and resource delineation at Akyanga East. The phase 2 exploration program, expected to launch in August, will comprise 27,000 metres of drilling across Akyanga and previously identified high-priority targets, including Ngalula, Lubitchako, Tulonge and Kilombwe; drilling at Akyanga in phase 2 will focus on infill drilling to convert inferred resources to indicated status. Assay results from 2,100 metres of historic diamond core that targeted both the northwestern extension and the high-grade southern zones of Akyanga are expected to be published in the coming weeks as they become available. To support drilling activities, key in-country roles have been filled, including exploration manager, security and HSE (health, safety and environment), and administration and logistics, adding significant DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) operating experience to the company. Mohamed Cisse, acting chief executive officer of Avanti, commented: "I'm pleased to report that we have begun the mobilization of drill rigs to the Misisi site, following the signing of a drilling services contract with Simba DRC Mining Services. Simba brings extensive experience operating in the DRC, having recently provided drilling services to Loncor Gold's Imbo project, located in north Kivu. Through the negotiated tender process and recently completed supplier field visit, we have developed very good working relationships with Simba and other in-country suppliers, and the team remains engaged in evaluating options to increase the number of rigs at site through the potential signing of additional contracts. "Further, I would like to welcome Avos Bashizi, Saleh Lwinda and Ntamba Aly Papou, who have joined Avanti as exploration manager, security and HSE manager, and logistics and administration manager, respectively. The appointments add significant eastern DRC operational experience, with today's appointees holding prior positions at top firms between mining, security and supply chain. "With a strong team now assembled and drill rigs on their way to site, the team remains focused on unlocking value at the Misisi gold project to the benefit of all stakeholders." 2026 exploration program As previously published, the 2026 exploration program will entail a total of approximately 42,000 metres of diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling, split between two phases, as outlined in Table 1 below. The phase 1 program, supported by four drill rigs, will prioritize an increased footprint expansion effort at the Akyanga deposit and high-priority target testing on the Akyanga East deposit while early exploration works, including ground truthing, sampling and mapping, will be conducted on Ngalula, Tulonge, Lubitchako and Kilombwe to assist in guiding future drill hole locations on those targets. Concurrently, Avanti will continue to evaluate the number of drill rigs and pacing of contractor performance to inform options to scale the number of rigs at site. The proposed phase 2 program is expected to entail approximately 27,000 metres of diamond and RC drilling across Akyanga as well as other high-priority targets. The phased approach serves to provide drill service providers time to ramp up efforts to include the additional targets along the 55-kilometre strike licensed area while leveraging early exploration methods conducted in phase 1 to better inform drilling target locations while leveraging optionality to add more drill rigs to the program. Management appointments To support its exploration program, Avanti has made three key-in country management appointments to facilitate the various elements of the continuing program. Avanti is pleased to have had significant interest in the candidate search, allowing for the appointment of top-quality candidates with extensive experience operating in the eastern DRC with major mining companies: Avos Bashizi has been appointed as exploration manager, effective Feb. 1, 2026. Mr. Bashizi is a seasoned exploration geologist with extensive experience operating in the eastern DRC and Tanzania, having most recently served as a chief geologist at Katavi Mining, a gold and copper mining and refinery operation based in Tanzania. Prior to this, Mr. Bashizi has worked extensively in the region conducting target generation, regional mapping, drilling and resource modelling for key regional players including Banro Corp., AngloGold Ashanti Goldfields, Sakima Mining and Vector Resources. Saleh Lwinda has been appointed as security and HSE manager, effective Feb. 1, 2026. Mr. Lwinda has served as an instrumental part of the continuing risk assessments of the Misisi project. Through his role as sector commander and chief instructor at TOP SIG SARL, a DRC-registered company authorized to operate as a private security company within the borders of the DRC, Mr. Lwinda has built and maintained key intelligence and security relationships with government and local communities in the Fizi region. Further, Mr. Lwinda has provided security and logistical services for several projects in multiple districts throughout the eastern DRC, having most recently conducted the in-country management field visit and the drill contractor visit to the Misisi project as part of the drill service tendering process. Ntamba Aly Papou has been appointed as logistics and administration manager, effective Feb. 1, 2026. Mr. Aly Papou has extensive experience around supply chain, logistics and public affairs within the eastern DRC, having most recently held a senior position in the direction of immigration in Bukavu. Prior to this, he has served as a senior purchasing and logistics officer at Banro Corp., directing purchasing and supply chain for the Twangiza, Lugushwa and Namoya mines. Next steps: Assay results from 2,100 metres of historic diamond core that targeted both the northwestern extension and the high-grade southern zones of the Akyanga deposit: The samples, representing approximately 10 per cent of the total drilling conducted at Akyanga, are currently undergoing assay, having arrived at the SGS lab in Tanzania on Jan. 22, 2026. Phase 1 exploration program: Drill rigs are expected to reach the Misisi project site by the end of February, with the formal launch of the 15,000-metre Phase 1 program covering the Akyanga and Akyanga East deposits expected to commence by March, 2026. About Avanti Gold Corp. Avanti Gold is a gold exploration company with a robust portfolio of projects in Africa. The company's flagship asset is the Misisi project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to the Akyanga gold deposit. The Akyanga deposit has an inferred mineral resource of 44.3 million tonnes at an average gold grade of 2.37 grams per tonne, totalling 3.1 million ounces of gold. The Misisi project spans three contiguous 30-year mining leases covering 133 square kilometres along the 55-kilometre-long Kibara gold belt, a prominent metallogenic province known for hosting significant gold deposits. Qualified persons statement Ephraim Masibhera, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who is independent has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the company's qualified person, as defined under NI 43-101, has not prepared or verified the historical information. We seek Safe Harbor.